Actuating mechanism for steam iron control valve



March 26, 1957 J. H. BEACH 2,786,288

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM IRON CONTROL VALVE Filed Dec. 3, 195; 2 Shets-Sheet 1 J. H. BEACH March 26, 1957 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM IRON CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3 1955 Fly. 2

United States Patent ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM IRON CONTRGL VALVE Justice H. Beach, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 3, 1953, Serial No. 395,871

13 Claims. (Cl. 3877) The present invention relates to the art of steam irons and is particularly directed to a novel and eifective manually operated mechanism for controlling the supply of water to the steam generating portion of a steam iron.

Most modern steam irons are of the so-called flash boiler type; that is, the water supply of the iron is contained in a reservoir which is thermally remote from the iron heating element so as not toapply heat to the stored supply of water. The reservoir is provided with an orifice or outlet arranged to discharge water at a controlled rate into a steam generating chamber formed in the iron sole plate proper. The flow of water through the outlet orifice of the reservoir is controlled by a valve mechanism actuated by some manually operable device generally positioned adjacent the forward portion of the iron manipulating handle.

Steam irons contain a considerable quantity of sheet metal parts and other parts of small dimension, presenting diificult tolerance problems and difiicult problems of alignment ofthe parts. It is most desirable and essential that the actual valve member of the waterv flow control system be arranged so as to seat properly in the valve provided therefor so as to close the reservoir discharge orifice when the iron is not in use as a steam iron. The Water fiow rate for domestic steam irons is such that they require a very small orifice which is likely to be clogged and for this reason it is customary to provide a very fine clearing rod or pin on the end of the valve member which goes through the orifice each time the valve is actuated. Unless the movement of the valve rod is very carefully controlled and its alignment insured it will'not seat properly and in extreme cases the clearing pin may jam on the edge of the valve seat above the orifice preventing closure of the valve or resulting in damage to the parts if a significant degree of force is applied in an effort to move the valve to closed position.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a steam iron water reservoir and flow control system wherein the orifice and valve guiding mechanisms are formed in a single part which is separable from the reservoir and which part is so constructed and designed that the valve guide and valve seat may be machined with one set-up to insure proper alignment thereof and also to insure that the valve will always be guided to seat properly and to project the clearing pin through theoutlet orifice without any possibility of the same engaging the side walls of the valve or jamming thereon.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a water flow control for steam irons wherein the valve structure is a separate unitary subassembly which is actu ated by a manually actuated mechanism having only a sliding pressure contact with the movable valve member and spring biased to render the operation of the movable valve member independent of misalignment and tolerance errors in the actuating mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of the steam iron embodying my invention, illustrating the valve control mechanism in the open or steaming position;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional View of the apparatus of Fig. 1 illustrating the control valve mechanism in the closed or non-steaming position;

'Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of.

Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a rocker arm element. Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to Fig. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a steam iron structure comprising a sole plate 1 having a cover shell 2 overlying the sole plate and supporting a heat insulating handle 3 suitably attached to the cover shell and sole plate structure. The iron structure in general herein disclosed is identical with that disclosed and claimed in the co-pending application of John E. Vance, Serial No. 295,950, filed June 27, 1952, now Patent No. 2,668,378, dated February 9, 1954, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, except for the valve structure and the control therefor which will be described in detail hereinafter. The iron heating element temperature is controlled in a known manner by a thermostat, not shown, which is ac tuated by a manually operated dial 4.

As shown in Fig. l, the heating element 5 is embedded into the sole plate 1 which is provided with a hollowed out chamber 6 forming a steam generating chamber which communicates in a manner fully disclosed in the aforesaid application with a steam distribution system. That portion of the sole plate 1 including the steam generating chamber 6 and steam passages is closed by a removable plate 7 held to the sole plate by studs 8 to form a sealed system for distributing steam to the ports in the sole plate 1. The cover plate 7 is provided with an opening 9 overlying the steam generating chamber 6 above which is mounted a thin section comparatively large diameter stainless steel plate 10 staked to the plate 7 and provided with a central opening surrounded by a dished section 11.

A water container or reservoir lZ is mounted beneath the cover shell 2 and has a die casting 13 staked there-to around a fill opening 14 which forms a filling spout. The die casting 13 is hollow and is provided with a forwardly directed ruling opening 15 whereby the iron may be tilled when resting on the heel rest by pouring water into the opening 15 which then flows through the casting 13 and into the reservoir 12. p

The lower portion of the'reservoir 12 is provided with a staked-on outlet fitting 16 having a threaded central openingthe'rethrough into which is threaded a valve con trol fitting 17. The fitting 17 at its lower portion is partially spherical in outline and rests upon a gasket 18 seating upon the dished portion 11 of the member 10 to form a seal at this point to allow the discharge portion of the fitting 17 to project into the space above the steam chamber 6. p

The fitting 17 is provided with a central bore termi nating adjacent its lower end in a conical valve seat 20 which terminates in a small bore metering orifice 21. The upper end of the conical valve seat 20 merges into a cylindrical bore 22 forming a guide surface for a control valve member 23. The control valve member 23 has a projecting portion 24 of reduced diameter adapted to engage the seat 20 to cut ofiflow of water through the orifice'21. The portion 24 of the valve stem is also provided with a small projecting pin-like member 25 adapted to project through the orifice 21 each time the valve is closed so as to clear the same and prevent clogging thereof.

The projecting portion of the fitting 17 is provided at the forward portion thereof with an opening 28 communicating with the interior of the chamber 12 above the fitting 16 to permit water to flow from the chamber into v the bore 22 around the reduced section 24 of the valve stem and to flow into the steam generating chamber 6. A holding plate 29 is staked to the upper end of the valve member 23 around a projecting cylindrical section 30 thereof of reduced diameter. A compression spring 31 bears between the under side of the plate 29 and a small shoulder 32 formed on the fitting 17 so as to bias the valve 23 to the open position as illustrated in Fig. l. The spring 31 preferably embraces the exterior of the fitting 17 with a friction fit so as to hold the parts assembled during the operation of assembling the fitting 1'7 and its appurtenances into the water container as will be described hereinafter. It is to be noted, however, that the diameter of the plate 29 is such as to allow the same to pass through the threaded opening in the plate 16. I

The water container 12 is provided with an upstanding short hollow nipple 34 which is staked thereto just rearwardly of. the filling tube 13 and serves to anchor a. transverse bafile 35 and a perforated cylindrical baffle 36 which extends around the opening 14 to the bottom portion of the container in circumferential relationship to those portions of the fitting 17 which extend into the interior of the container 12. The function of these elements is to prevent splashing of water through the member 13 as the iron is reciprocated in use and also to prevent splashing and surging of the water as the iron is moved from its rest to its operating position.

The forward portion of the cylindrical bafile 36 is provided with a short slot 37 which is aligned with a corresponding but much longer slot 38 at the rear portion of the baffle 36. A channel-shaped rock bar 40 extends through the slots 37 and 38 at the opposite sides thereof and is provided in the bight portion thereof with an opening 41 embracing the reduced diameter upwardly projecting section 30 on the valve member 23. The side flanges 42 of the member 40, see Fig. 4, have the central portions thereof cut back to form a V-shaped edge 43 with the apex of the V aligned with the axis of the hole 41. Thus, in the assembled position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the apex of the V-shaped edges 43 bears upon the upper surface of the plate 29 and forms a fulcrum at this point as will be described hereinafter. The length of the rock bar 40 is such that it cannot be moved forwardly or rearwardly in the container 12 without engaging the front of the container or the baffle 35 before it is free of the slots 37 and 38.

The tubular nipple 34 not only serves as a means for securing the baffles 35 and 36 in the container 12 but also as a loose guide for an actuating rod 45 having its lower end bearing on the upper surface of bight portion of the rocker arm 40 rearwardly of its point of connection with the valve stem structure 23. The upper end of the actuating rod 45 is guided by a hole formed in a rearwardly projecting tongue 46 formed on a U-shaped bracket 47 having the bight portion thereof secured to the upper end of the casting 13 by studs 48 and which serves other functions to be described hereinafter.

The actuating rod 45 is surrounded by a compression spring 49 hearing on its upper end on a collar 50 which engages a split ring 51 secured in a suitable groove in the member 45. The lower end of spring 49 bears on a dish-shaped washer 52 which in turn bears upon a gasket member 53 resting upon the upper surface of the fitting 34. The spring 49 maintains pressure upon the gasket 53 under all conditions to form a seal between it and the member 34, thus sealing the water container 12 at this point. The gasket 53 also maintains a sliding seal with the rod 45 to prevent leakage along the rod when the iron is upended as will be noted hereinafter.

The upper end of the rod 45 bears upon the under surface of a leaf spring 55 which has a loose mount upon a vertically extending tongue 56 formed on the U-shaped bracket 47. The tongue 56 has a hook-shaped end portion 57 which is received in a small slot 58 formed in the leaf spring 55. A finger or thumb actuated cam control member 60 is pivoted upon a pin 61 supported in the upper ends of the side legs of the U-shaped' bracket 47. The legs of the bracket 47 are provided with arcuate slots 62 which are adapted to receive projecting stops 63 formed on the cam member 60 and positioned to enter the slots and engage the closed ends thereof to limit movement of the member 60.

The under side of the member 60 is formed as a compound carn surface having a flat portion 65 merging into an arcuate section 66 terminating in a rounded born or point 67. in the position of the parts shown in Fig. l, the spring 55 is curved slightly, lying flat against the flat portion 65 of the cam actuator 69. In this position of the parts, the actuating rod 45 is at its highest position, be'ng maintained in that position by the spring 49. Similarly, the spring 31 has raised the valve stem 23 to the maximum limits allowed by the rock bar 40 which engages the lower end of the actuating rod 45. The tension of the springs 31 and 49 overcomes the tension of the spring 55 to maintain the same flat against the cam actuator'fiti, as illustrated. As the cam is rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, the arcuate surface 66 rolls into contact with the spring 55, rocking the same in a counter-clockwise direction to force the rod 45' downwardly against the force of the spring 49, which in turn pivots the rock bar 40 in a counter-clockwise direction, compressing spring 31 and urging the valve stem 23 downwardly to the closed position of the parts, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the final position of the cam 60, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it has rotated in a clockwise direction to the maximum extent permitted by the interaction of slot 62 and pin 63, to place the horn 67 of the cam surface into engagement with the spring 55, in which position of. the parts the reaction force between horn 67 and spring 55 acts in a direction slightly rearwardly of the axis of pin 61 to maintain the elements in stable condition.

It will be noted from the relationship of the various springs that the springs 31, 49 and 55 act to compensate the parts for errors in manufacture and tolerance differences and also to compensate for misalignment. In the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, the compression of springs 31 and 49 is overcome by the force of spring 55 acting under the bias of the finger or thumb operated cam actuator 60. In the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. l, the springs 31 and 49 act together to hold the spring 55 and thumb actuator 60 in the illustrated position. Any rotation of the cam 60 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 tends to increase the force on the spring 55 and to drive rod 45 downwardly against the bias of springs 31 and 49'; hence the parts remain stable in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

When the parts move to the valve closed position of Fig. 2, spring 31 gives until the valve forms a firm seat and thence a practically rigid structure is formed from the valve seat through valve stem 23, rock bar 40 and actuating rod 45 up to the spring 55 which then gives to compensate the parts for any misalignments or differences in length and the like introduced by manufacturing errors and tolerances, so that the valve stem 23 is firmly seated but is seated under a spring force which prevents dam-- age to the parts as well as compensating for errors in manufacture and the like.

Due to the fact that any movement of the actuator 60 in a counter-clockwise direction in the position of Fig. 2 tends to permit the spring 55 to approach the pivot pin 61, it is only necessary to rock the pin a slight distance from the position illustrated in Fig. 2, after which the parts return to the Fig. 1 position with a snap action. When the member 60 is actuated to close the valve stem 23, it is moved to the maximum extent possible as determined by the members 62 and 63, providing positive identification of the steaming position of the parts.

The method of assembly of the portions of the iron forming the subject matter of this invention is as follows.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tank 12 is formed in upper and lower halves joined by a rolled seam. as indicated at 68. After the upper half of the tank is formed, the casting 13 and fitting 34 are staked thereto. In the process of staking fitting 34 to the upper half of the tank, the bafiies 35 and 36 are anchored in the final position to the upper half of the water container. The fitting 16 is staked to the lower half of the water container 12 prior to final assembly of the parts thereof together.

With the upper half of the container held upside down, the rock bar is manually positioned in the slots 37 and 38 between the transverse bafile 35 at the front of the water container. Next, the lower half of the container is clamped in position with respect to the upper half thereof and the seam 68 is rolled to join and seal the two halves of the water container together. With this action, the rock bar 40 is entrapped within the slots 37 and 38. The fitting 17 and assembly including the valve stem 23, spring 31 and washer 29 are next inserted through the central threaded opening in the fitting 16 and a tool is inserted downwardly through the opening 15. to grasp the rock bar 40 and position the same so that the extending stem 30 projects through the opening, after which the fitting 17 is tightly screwed into sealing engagement with the fitting 16, thus assembling the parts of the water container proper in final relationship.

The rod 45, washer 53, washer 52, plate 50 and spring 49 are assembled by passing the rod downwardly through the opening in the tongue 46 and the various elements which surround the same except the split ring 51 until the rod 45 seats on the upper end of the rocker bar 40. The plate 50 is next depressed against spring 49 below the groove in the rod 45 and split ring 51 is then inserted to secure these elements in final operative position.

The valve assembly associated with the fitting 17 is removable as a unit from the water container 12 for servicing or replacement without affecting the relationship of the other parts of the valve actuating mechanism to each other or removing them from their assembled position with respect to the iron structure. It is only necessary when replacing the fitting 17 and its associated valve structures to hold the rocker arm 40 in position to receive the extension 30 on the valve structure while the fitting 17 is being threaded into seating relation with the fitting 16.

It is to be noted in this connection that the entire water container reservoir and valve control assembly forms a separate subassembly which is removable as a unit from the other portions of the iron structure, as set forth in the copending application described hereinabove.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in considerable detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the arrangement, proportion and construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a steam iron having a sole plate provided with a steam generating chamber, a reservoir for water having a valve and outlet fitting, a seat on the sole plate structure for receiving the outlet fitting to direct water therefrom into the generating chamber and a manipulating handle, the combination of a filling tube carried by the reservoir and projecting thereabove into a cut-away portion of the handle, means on the valve fitting forming a valve stem guide, a valve stem movably mounted in said guide for opening and closing the valve, spring means carried by the fitting and biasing the valve stem to open position, a rocker arm having one end bearing on the valve stem, means in the reservoir for guiding the rocker arm and providing a fulcrum therefor, an actuating rod having one end hearing on the other end of said rocker arm at a point removed from the valve stem, means on the reservoir and fill tube forming guides for the actuating rod, and a man ually operable means for operating the rod to actuate 6 the '.valve stem. to closed. position against said biasing meansi v 2. A reservoir and water flow control assembly for steam irons comprising a water container, a removable valve assembly on the lower side of the reservoir including a discharge port for the container and a valve member slidably supported by the valve assembly for movement between open and closed positions, a spring carried by the assembly biasing the valve member to its open position, a rocker arm mounted in the container and having one end bearing on the valve member for moving the same against the force of the spring, an actuating rod slidably mounted on the container in ofiset relation to the valve member and having its lower end in the container and bearing against the other end of said rocker arm and an actuating portion projecting above the container. 1

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a fill tube projecting above the water container and mechanism for operating the actuating rod carried by said fill tube.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a filling tube projecting above the water container, means on the fillingtube forming a guide for the the actuating rod, spring means biasing the actuating rod away from the rocker arm, a second spring mounted on the filling tube and engaging the actuating rod and a finger operated actuator mounted on the filling tube, and said actuator having a camportion engaging the second spring means and movable to a first position in which the stress applied to the second spring is insufficient to overcome the spring means biasing the actuating rod and valve member to a second position in which the second spring is stressed sufliciently to move the actuating rod and valve means against the spring means biasing the same.

5. In a steam iron structure having a Water reservoir and a valve member for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir, the combination of mechanism for operating the valve member including a slidably mounted rod projecting upwardly of the reservoir, a compression spring biasing the rod upwardly of the reservoir, a leaf spring having one end bearing on the upper end of the rod and the other end thereof supported on the iron structure, a control member mounted on the iron structure for pivotal movement about an axis positioned above the leaf spring ofiset from the rod, said control member having a flat portion merging into a nose portion at a greater distance from the axis of the control member than the flat portion, whereby rotation of the control member to engage the nose portion with the leaf spring directly below the axis of the control member stresses the leaf spring to apply downward pressure to the rod and rotation of the control member to engage the fiat portion thereof with the leaf spring relieves the pressure applied to the upper end of the rod.

6. A water reservoir and water flow control assembly for steam irons comprising a water container having an opening in the lower side thereof, a valve housing re movably secured in said opening having a discharge orifice in the lower part thereof and a valve mounting and guide structure projecting upwardly into the container, a valve member slidably mounted in the housing to open and close the orifice, a spring biasing the valve member upwardly to open the orifice, a baffle in the container around the valve housing, a rocker arm mounted on the baffle and bearing on the valve member, a rod slidably supported by the container in oifset relation to the valve housing having a part in the container bearing on the rocker arm and a part projecting above the container, a second spring biasing the rod upwardly away from the rocker arm, a third spring bearing on the upper end of the rod, and manually operable means for increasing the stress of the third spring to actuate the rod and rocker arm to move the valve member to closed position or for decreasing the stress on the third spring to allow the valve membet to move to open position whereby the closing pressure applied. to the valve. member is spring cushioned and movement of the valve member is independent of tolerances and misalignments in the actuating mechanism therefor.

7. A. reservoir and water flow control sub-assembly for steam irons comprising, a water container, adischarge port formed in the bottom wall of said container, a valve stem, means for mounting said stem within said container for movement to. port opening and port closing positions, spring means associated with said mounting means for biasing said stem to one of its positions, an actuating member movably mounted within said container for moving said stem in opposition to said spring means and means accessible from the exterior of said container and extending into said container into contact with said actuating member for acuating the latter.

8. A sub-assembly according to claim 7 in which said last mentioned means includes an actuating rod reciprocatably mounted on said container with one end extending into said container for contact with said actuating memher and its other end projecting from said container and a manually operable button movably supported on the sub-assembly above said container and operable to impart movement to the end of said rod which projects from said container.

9. A sub-assembly according to claim 8 in which said valve stem is spring biased to its open position, said rodis spring biased away from said actuating member while remaining in contact therewith and spring means associated with said button in opposition to the spring bias of said rod and valve stem, the spring bias of said rod and valve are normally greater than that of said button whereby manual actuation of said button is necessary t close said port.

10. A sub-assembly according to claim 9 in which the spring biasing arrangement for said button is an over center snap acting device having SUfi'lCifint force to hold said stem in port closing position when moved to one of its over-center positions.

11-. A sub-assembly according to claim 7 in which said valve stem mounting means includes means for guiding said valve stem for reciprocatory movement and said actuating member merely contacts the end of said valve stem whereby movement of said valve stem is independent of misalignment and tolerancesin parts of the assembl associated with said actuating member.

12. A. sub-assembly according to claim 7 in which said discharge port is formed in a fitting detachably' secured to the bottom wall of said container and said valve stem mounting means forms a part of said fitting whereby removal of said fitting will also remove said valve stem from said. container.

13. A sub-assembly according to claim 7 in which said afluating member is in the form of a rocker arm having one end in contact with the upper end of said valve stem and said last mentioned means is in the form of a rod reciprocably mounted inthe top wall of said container with its lower end in contact with the other end of said rocker arm and with its upper end extending above said container for manual actuation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,716 Woodman Feb. 29, 1944 2,483,816 Edwards Oct. 4, 1949 2,642,027 Kircher June 16, 1953 2,655,746 McFarland et a1. Oct. 20, 1953 

